Orioles agree to terms with 3 of their top 7 draft picks

Here's how the Orioles' top 10 prospects (as ranked by Baseball America) fared over the past week. NOTE: Stats are through June 29. — Steven Petrella

Dan Connolly

The Orioles have agreed in principle with three of their top seven draft picks, including second-rounder Branden Kline, a right-hander out of the University of Virginia who graduated from Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick.

The club also agreed to terms with both of their players from the University of South Carolina, who could not negotiate until after the Gamecocks lost in the College World Series on Monday: Fourth-rounder Christian Walker, a first baseman, and seventh-rounder Matthew Price, a right-handed pitcher.

The deals will not become official until they pass physicals – which are expected Monday or Tuesday.

The three are believed to have signed for slot money – which is approximately $793,700 for Kline; $349,900 for Walker and $149,300 for Price.

When official, the Orioles will have inked 27 of their 40 picks, including eight of their top 10. Only first rounder Kevin Gausman, a right-hander from LSU, and fifth-rounder Colin Poche, a left-handed prep pitcher from Texas, remain unsigned in the top 10.

The deadline isn’t until July 13 at 5 p.m., so the Orioles are much farther ahead than they have been in the past – which has a lot to do with the new drafting rules and top 10 bonus pool.

So far the Orioles have not exceeded the allotted slot for any of their top 10 signees.